Global Warming Seen as a Problem That Needs to be Addressed Globally, But Most People Want U.S. to Take the Lead

ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A large majority of the public believes that global warming is a problem that must be addressed by industrial countries globally. However, a large majority also believes that the United States needs to take the lead when it comes to controlling greenhouse gases and pollution.

These are two of the findings of a new Harris Poll of 1,052 adults surveyed by telephone between October 16 and 23, 2007 by Harris Interactive®.

The main findings of this poll include:

• Those who think we have too little government regulation (53%) “in the area of environmental protection” greatly outnumbers those who think we have too much (21%);
• Those who now think we have too little regulation (53%) have increased from 47 percent in 2005 and 39 percent in 2000. However, they are far fewer than those who felt that way in the early 1990s;
• Republicans are split more or less equally between those who believe we have too much (34%) and too little (36%) regulation. Most Democrats (68%) and half of Independents (51%) believe we have too little regulation;
• A 71 percent to 23 percent majority believes that current trends will lead to global warming and an increase in average temperatures. This substantial majority who believe in global warming has not changed much in the last ten years (in 1997 a 67 percent to 21 percent believed this to be true). The same proportion (71%) of the public believes that we are already experiencing global warming;
• A very large majority (87%) of all adults agrees with the statement that “since emerging countries such as India and China will soon pass the United States as the largest contributor of greenhouse gases, whatever is done to control these gases should be undertaken by almost all industrial countries”;
• At the same time an almost equally large 81 percent majority believes that “the United States needs to set the lead when it comes to controlling greenhouse gases and pollution”.

So What?

This poll leaves no doubt that the great majority of Americans, believe that global warming is a real threat, that we are already experiencing its effects, and that this country should take the lead in doing more to address it. Clearly that has not been the position of the Bush administration.

As we get closer to the 2008 election, candidates will surely notice that over half of Republicans (and very large majorities of Democrats and Independents) believe we are experiencing global warming, and that more than a third of Republicans (36%) think there is too little environmental regulation. The Republican nominee next fall, whoever he is, will need to avoid being identified with President Bush’s skepticism on global warming and his resistance to taking strong steps — domestically or internationally — to deal with it. If he does not, some Republicans may be reluctant to vote for him.

TABLE 1 GOVERNMENT REGULATION TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS – TREND
“Do you think there is too much, too little, or about the right amount of government regulation and involvement in the area of environmental protection?”
Base: All Adults
				Too Much		Too Little		About the Right Amount		Not Sure
Now		%		21		53		21		5
2005		%		19		47		32		2
2000		%		22		39		33		5
1999		%		29		42		28		1
1998		%		29		41		29		2
1997		%		21		49		28		1
1996		%		24		41		30		5
1993		%		20		52		24		3
1991		%		11		63		23		3
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 2 AMOUNT OF REGULATION AND INVOLVEMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
“Do you think there is too much, too little, or about the right amount of government regulation and involvement in the area of environmental protection?”
Base: All Adults
		All Adults		Party ID
				Republican		Democrat		Independent
		%		%		%		%
Too much		21		34		10		25
Too little		53		36		68		51
About the right amount		21		25		17		19
Not sure		5		4		4		4
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 3 BELIEF IN GLOBAL WARMING – TREND
“Do you believe the theory that increased carbon dioxide and other gases released into the atmosphere will, if unchecked, lead to global warming and an increase in average temperatures?”
Base: All Adults
		1997		2000		2001		2002		NOW
		%		%		%		%		%
Believe		67		72		75		74		71
Do not believe		21		20		19		19		23
Not sure/Refused		12		9		6		7		6
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 4 ARE WE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING GLOBAL WARMING?
“Do you believe that we are currently experiencing global warming?
Base: All Adults
		Total		Party ID
				Republican		Democrat		Independent
		%		%		%		%
Yes, believe		71		56		82		74
No, do not believe		24		37		13		22
Not sure		6		7		5		4
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

TABLE 5 AGREE/DISAGREE WITH STATEMENTS ON INTERNATIONAL ROLE OF U.S.
“Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?”
Base: All Respondents
				Strongly Agree		Somewhat Agree		Somewhat Disagree		Strongly Disagree		Not Sure/ Decline to Answer		Total Agree		Total Disagree
Since emerging countries such as India and China will soon pass the United States as the largest contributor of greenhouse gases, what ever is done to control these gases should be undertaken by almost all industrial countries		%		65		22		4		7		2		87		10
As the world’s leading industrial country, the United States needs to set the lead when it comes to controlling greenhouse gases and pollution		%		56		24		8		8		3		81		16
Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Methodology

The Harris Poll^® was conducted by telephone within the United States between October 16 and 23, 2007 among 1,052 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, number of adults in the household, size of place (urbanicity) and number of phone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words “margin of error” as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

J31986

Q805, 810, 815, 820

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 13th largest and one of the fastest-growing market research firms in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world’s largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its North American, European and Asian offices, and through a global network of independent market research firms. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.

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Harris Interactive Inc. 11/07